Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi
If you’re the kind of person who thinks about what your life mission might be, I’m sure you’ve seen this quote many times. I know I have. But when I saw it again this morning, it struck me in a new light.
I’ve always thought of it as a powerful call to action. If you see something that needs changing, don’t wait around for someone else to change it.
But today when I read it, I realized there’s one more element to it.
It is not only a call to action, but it’s a call to the specific action that is most important to you.
Whatever specific change you want to see – whatever is important to you – you are responsible for making it happen.
This is a deep piece of wisdom on how to live life.
Gandhi didn’t do what he did because he happened upon something that needed to be changed. He changed the world and left a legacy doing and giving what he was most called to do. The change that needed to be made, the change that he wanted to see, was one that he felt passionate about.
I’m sure there were many other things in the world that he might have liked to see changed. But he didn’t spend time on those other things. He had a passion and a life mission, and through his dedication to that he achieved his goal (and became a hero, though that is not what he was after).
It’s so easy to become distracted in the world today.
There is so much that we might liked to see changed, whether it’s a social mission like Gandhi’s, a business mission or a personal mission.
But how do we know what we should spend time on?
What is important to dedicate our lives to?
I believe that our life mission (or calling or purpose or job, or whatever else it might be called) is made up of specific pieces that we can examine and understand.
Some people already know what they are called to do, and they are out in the world doing it.
For the rest of us, we need to spend time deciphering the hieroglyphs before we can set out on our journeys. I believe that you can do this. Through listening to yourself and knowing the right questions to ask, you can know what your life mission is.
I think that’s actually a relief to people.
It’s quite painful to not know what you are here to do – especially when you have so much talent and potential. It’s painful to sit with the not knowing, the chomping-at-the-bit to do something meaningful, the feeling lost, feeling useless, and feeling disconnected.
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Imagine what the world would be if Gandhi hadn’t done the work he did. Imagine what the world would be if you don’t do the work you are here to do.
Every piece matters. Everything we decide to do or don’t do makes a difference.
The right questions are related to understanding your passions, but also understanding what you are here to give and your own life story, your skills and who you are.
Here are a few to get you started:
1. If I had all the money in the world, what would I do with myself (after I finished a huge spending spree)?
2. What is your superpower – the thing you are most awesome at?
3. What do you love to give to others?
4. What change do you want to see?
As always, I’m here to help. (Helping people to find their path and make their mark is my mission in the world!)
If you found this article helpful, I’d love it if you’d share! There are others out there too looking for help with their life mission and trying to figure out the work they love! Thank you!